Uterine fibroid tissue removal device

Abstract

A uterine fibroid tissue removal device includes an inner tube disposed within an outer tube and configured to be translated and rotated relative to the outer tube, and a separately formed unitary distal tip member attached to a distal end of the inner tube, such that the distal tip member translates and rotates relative to the outer tube along with the inner tube, wherein a distal facing open cutting end of the distal tip member in fluid communication with an axial lumen of the distal tip member translates across a tissue resection window in a sidewall of the outer tube so as to sever tissue extending therethrough, the distal tip member axial lumen being in fluid communication with an axial lumen of the inner tube, wherein an outer diameter of the distal tip member is greater than an outer diameter of the inner tube.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A tissue removal device, comprising:
 a housing;   an outer tube having a proximal end supported by the housing;   an inner tube disposed within the outer tube;   a drive shaft configured to be rotated by a motor;   a first spur gear mounted coaxially over the drive shaft and fixed thereto, such that the first spur gear rotates with the drive shaft;   a worm mounted coaxially over the drive shaft and fixed thereto, such that the worm rotates with the drive shaft;   a second spur gear mounted coaxially over the inner tube and fixed thereto, such that the inner tube rotates with the second spur gear, wherein the second spur gear is meshed with the first spur gear;   a worm gear meshed with the worm, such that rotation of the worm around a worm axis results in rotation of the worm gear around a worm gear axis perpendicular to the worm axis; and   a reciprocation arm attached at one end to the worm gear and at a second end to the inner tube, such that rotation of the drive shaft causes rotation of the inner tube via the first and second spur gears and simultaneously causes reciprocating translation of the inner tube relative to the outer tube via the worm, worm gear and reciprocation arm, respectively.   
     
     
         3 . The tissue removal device of  claim 2 , wherein the inner tube is sufficiently flexible to bend in conformity with a bend in the outer tube while rotating within the outer tube. 
     
     
         4 . The tissue removal device of  claim 2 , wherein the outer tube comprises a window through a sidewall thereof, the window being located proximal of the closed distal end and having a length of approximately 0.55 inches. 
     
     
         5 . The tissue removal device of  claim 3 , wherein the window extends over 60% of a circumference of the outer tube. 
     
     
         6 . The tissue removal device of  claim 2 , wherein an outer diameter of the inner tube is about 0.002 inches less than an inner diameter of the outer tube. 
     
     
         7 . The tissue removal device of  claim 2 , wherein an outer surface of the inner tube or an inner surface of the outer tube is coated with a low friction coating. 
     
     
         8 . The tissue removal device of  claim 2 , wherein the reciprocating arm is disposed between the inner tube and the worm gear. 
     
     
         9 . The tissue removal device of  claim 2 , wherein the first spur gear is distal to the worm. 
     
     
         10 . The tissue removal device of  claim 2 , wherein the worm is disposed between the worm gear and the second spur gear. 
     
     
         11 . The tissue removal device of  claim 2 , wherein the first and second spur gears are configured to rotate, and wherein the second spur gear is configured to rotate four times faster than the first spur gear. 
     
     
         12 . The tissue removal device of  claim 2 , wherein the worm and worm gear are configured to reciprocate the inner tube at about 2.8 cycles per second. 
     
     
         13 . The tissue removal device of  claim 2 , further comprising a power switch configured to activate or de-active the motor, wherein the motor is configured turn off when inner tube is in its distalmost portion relative to the housing by sensing a status of the power switch. 
     
     
         14 . A tissue removal device, comprising:
 a drive shaft configured to be rotated by a motor;   an outer tube having a first lumen, a closed distal end, and a window through a sidewall thereof leading to the lumen, the window being located proximal of the closed distal end; and   an inner tube disposed within the first lumen and having a second lumen extending between an open distal end and an open proximal end, wherein the open proximal end is connected to a suction source,   wherein the inner tube is operatively coupled to the drive shaft such that, when the drive shaft rotates, the inner tube rotates and reciprocates simultaneously within the outer tube.   
     
     
         15 . The tissue removal device of  claim 14 , further comprising a rotation mechanism coupled between the draft shaft and the inner tube that transfers rotational movement of the drive shaft to the inner tube. 
     
     
         16 . The tissue removal device of  claim 15 , wherein the rotation mechanism comprises a first spur gear attached to the drive shaft and a second spur gear attached to the inner tube, wherein the first spur gear is meshed with the second spur gear. 
     
     
         17 . The tissue removal device of  claim 14 , further comprising a reciprocating mechanism coupled between the drive shaft and the inner tube that converts rotational movement of the drive shaft into reciprocating movement of the inner tube. 
     
     
         18 . The tissue removal device of  claim 17 , wherein the reciprocating mechanism comprises a worm attached to the drive shaft and a worm gear attached to the inner tube via a crank. 
     
     
         19 . The tissue removal device of  claim 18 , wherein the crank has a first end attached to the worm gear at a non-centric location, and a second end attached to a collar attached to the inner tube.